Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-04

The discourse was a magnificent one,
the speaker holding that there are two
methods Of know iag God, the method of
argument and the method of experience,
the first coming after reason, and the sec
OGd atte; fact D@elling at length on
these two arguments, Bishop Foss
said that the whole magnificent
array ri modern science is the
frat of experiment Christian religion
submits itself to al! tests OF scieaiifc ex-
periments leading to Knowledge. Oaly
thus can christianity be the religion of the
world at large. Christianity has the soil,
tary distinction of being the only system
of religion the world has OF ever has had.
How can the gospel 60 hopefully to every
people except by experiment? A familiar
proverb is that AN ounce of fact is worth
q ton of argument" Science has been
built up, ciViliz ltion has progressed by
experimental methods. The right of
fact aud experiment are the best and
surest methods. VIII not the Almighty
bring religion TO US by this method of ex
pertinent, as He does even ything else
Our fellowship is with the Father In
all ages from the beginning until how,
the testimony has been growing that we
know God. Let us learn wisdom from
men of science Let us experiment with
what IS before Us, and We will know that
God knows men. God makes thousands
of proposals 10 men to try experiments on
Him. and He pledges His unimpeachable
word aud oath and His life AS tp the re-
suit He solemply swears that He will
come dowi from His throne and die M
less His promises come true, The speaker
| held that two many " ere prone to crit
else the bible without reading it-beauti-
fully and wildly illustrating this argu-
ment by "reminiscences of personal exper
fence. Il WIS insane folly to question
the reality OF experimental religion. Il
is right here that the battle of religion is
fought and is being fought. Does God
make himself known to Hen?' That
is The question. Experimental chris.
tiani'y. is that on which unbeiie
turns w know The words magnetism
and sraviIaiiur. but no man can explain
either. It is mystery the whole way
YET We believe. The most philosophical
will believe good deal in what he hears
When two or three scientists had made
a Flew wonderful discoveries. all tn,
world believed and sai! well lone.
Yet where is the scientist that died 30
his testimony as Christ did? Al
scientific discoveries are the an
swers Of nature to the intellect
ual wants of man Man wants more
than food and intellect; he has spin
that wants salvation Has that wan
been supplied? The human race has il
all times gone up ead down the ages wall
ing out 'MyFather where art Thou Does
not the lesson of the bible teach thai
God has found His child. the child Ia.
found his God
We ask for 10 new theology; the old i
better We wanted no new doctrine, no nes
creed. The bishop spoke of John West
ley as the founder OF Meshodism, whc
was the new baptism of an old method
1t was an eloquent and scholarly discourse
The bishop breaches extemporaucousl,
he has beautiful flow of language, an
is forciole speaker The sermon o
yesterday but meagre outline of whic
is given. was one abreast with the scieu
tjfic spirit Of the times.
q At 3 in the afternoon, love feast wa
! held at the church, when the sacramen
t was administered. Presiding Elder P. A
Cool conducting the services
THE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
Last evening the church was crowde,
J when Mr.. E. d. Sweeney delivered fin
address on The Methodist Episcopa
Church in Rock Island"
The first mention in the records of ia
church at large OF an appointment q
= Rock Island. is in the minutes of tn
!, Illinois conference of 1881, u conferenC
then comprising the entire state. Roc
Island is named as mission to whic